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Since this is a day devoted to love, I thought I’d share the definition of love found in the Bible:

This beautiful description of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in the New Living Translation.

I’d also like to share that I fail in every single definition of love.

Because even with the knowledge of this verse, I do the very opposite. It pains me to be imperfection to my husband, children, family, friends, and even strangers… who deserve more than my tolerance is able.

And still, it is by the grace of God that I am given the millionth opportunity to keep trying to love. And it is with God that I will succeed to love. Because NOTHING is impossible with God (Luke 1:37) And God is ABLE to make all grace abound towards me…(2 Corinthians 9:8)!

Here’s the verse:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

“Love is patient and kind.

Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

It does not demand its own way.

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up,
never loses faith,
is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless.

But love will last forever!”

I love that last line…Love will last forever! It makes me so excited and encouraged to love more! And yet, the line…It is not irritable…is really not my best line. In fact, it is my constant error in my mission to love.

You see, it’s not necessarily the children or my husband or family or strangers that provide me with situations to get irritated…it’s really my own inexperience in handling trying situations.

Here’s an example:

So, I’m trying to teach the Bohr Diagram to my son who is questioning the authenticity of the electron configuration for atoms, the phone rings, my child screams: “I’mmmmm dooooone!”, I know that we have to get ready and out of the house in an hour for archery, the other two children are not having a sharing moment, I step on one of those pointy-I’m-in-need-of-surgery-now lego pieces on my way to answer the phone. Now while I’m wiping my youngest child in the bathroom on the phone with someone who wants to schedule a job with my husband right now, the sharing moment turns out into a tattling frenzy of who hit who first…it does go on…believe me.

My experience as this situation is presented to me is usually to fail in the department of love.

I get heated, literally. Hot flashes are starting in my underarms and working their way to my head. I tend to feel confused, and then another situation of irritation presents itself on top of what I’m already trying to deal with, and my irritability ensues. How do I fend for my own inexperience?

Well, I’ve learned one of the solutions out there is smiling. Because smiling produces endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Working together they naturally make us feel good. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood for the better! Smiling also lowers your blood pressure! Plus, smiling doesn’t make you look or sound so scary anymore!

It’s simple, but it’s really difficult to do. Try it! It’s a start!

It’s going to be a challenge!

But I’m willing for my character to grow out of it’s rusty shell, and bloom with traits that are as beautiful as lilies and roses and orchids – creating a garden of love! Imagine if everyone was challenged to love and live out this verse!

On this day, and hopefully everyday we live, may we try to remember, with softened hearts, to be willing to act and live out the meaning of love.